When attempts to weaponise his geopolitical background failed, detractors quickly shifted ground, resorting to another baseless effort, this time questioning the impeccable academic pedigree of Professor Joash Amupitan, a distinguished scholar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN. Recent social media insinuations suggesting that he did not obtain a secondary school education betray not only ignorance but deliberate mischief.
Let’s set the record straight. In those days, Nigeria’s educational calendar was stable and uninterrupted, unlike the frequent disruptions of today. Schools followed a predictable rhythm. Students typically sat for their West African School Certificate (WASSC or WAEC) examinations in May/June and could begin tertiary education by September or October. It was also completely normal to register for JAMB with “awaiting results”, meaning admission could be secured while waiting for the final WAEC results to be released. Once the results were out and verified, the admission stood.
So, for someone as brilliant as Joash Amupitan, his quick academic progression was not only possible, it was a mark of his exceptional intellect and discipline.
Ironically, the literal meaning of his surname, Amupitan “a man to be referenced by history”, perfectly captures his life’s journey. From humble beginnings in Ayetoro-Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, he has grown into one of Nigeria’s most cerebral legal minds, admired for his integrity, scholarship, and apolitical disposition.
His family background reflects discipline and purpose. His mother, a devoted teacher, rose to become the Headmistress of First Baptist Primary School, Otun Quarters, Ayetoro-Gbede, the same school young Joash attended, while his father served as a respected community magistrate.
Joash displayed uncommon brilliance early on, skipping from Primary Four straight to St. Barnabas Secondary School, Kabba. There, he studied alongside the likes of Hon. Duro Meseko, a former member of the House of Representatives who represented the Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency, and Professor Shola Solomon of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
In 1982, he proceeded to the School of Basic Studies, Kwara Polytechnic, as the youngest in his class. There, he earned his Higher School Certificate (HSC), which paved the way for direct entry into the university to study Law, a field in which he has since excelled with distinction.
Now, think about it, how could a man who supposedly never completed secondary school have gained admission into the School of Basic Studies, earned an HSC, and later completed his Law degree with outstanding results? How could he have advanced academically to earn multiple postgraduate degrees, including a Master of Laws (LL.M), and eventually risen to become a Professor of Law and Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Jos?
Add to that his call to the Nigerian Bar, his elevation to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and his recognition both nationally and internationally as a legal luminary. Such feats are not possible without solid academic foundations, beginning, of course, with the West African School Certificate.
Professor Amupitan’s career accomplishments speak for themselves. He has served as Head of the Department of Public Law, Dean of the Faculty of Law, and later Director of the School of Postgraduate Studies at the University of Jos. His publications in constitutional law, human rights, and governance reform are widely cited across the legal and academic communities. His service as Legal Adviser to various government institutions and his consistent advocacy for the rule of law and electoral integrity further reinforce his reputation as one of Nigeria’s most credible voices in public life.
While public scrutiny of those in public office is understandable, it must be guided by facts, not falsehood. Professor Amupitan’s rise is the product of merit, diligence, and an unbroken commitment to excellence.
As he assumes the mantle of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigerians can only hope that his intellect, integrity, and tested antecedents will usher in a new era of credibility and transformation in the nation’s electoral process.
Indeed, Joash Amupitan is a man destined to be referenced by history. Ìrèe ooo.
Adedotun, Esq. (LL.M), a legal practitioner based in Lagos, was a student of Professor Amupitan at the University of Jos. He also shares maternal origin with the Professor, both tracing their roots to Ayetoro-Gbede in Kogi State.